Apple may release iOS 26.2 beta for iPhones very soon

Apple could roll out the first beta of iOS 26.2 as early as Tuesday, just a day after iOS 26.1 is expected to reach the public, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Gurman reports that iOS 26.1 is scheduled for release on Monday, provided there are no “last-minute delays.” The update introduces a new ‘Tinted’ toggle for the Liquid Glass interface, allowing better readability by slightly reducing visual effects. Aside from that, iOS 26.1 remains a modest update focused on refinements rather than major new features.

Following that, Apple is likely to push out the iOS 26.2 developer beta “as soon as Tuesday,” alongside betas for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and other Apple platforms. Gurman notes that the initial iOS 26.2 beta may not contain any significant new additions, though Apple often introduces new features in later builds — as seen with iOS 26.1, where the Liquid Glass toggle appeared only in beta 4.

What to expect in iOS 26.2
Expectations for iOS 26.2 are modest at this stage. Apple has previously said that US passport integration in Apple Wallet will arrive before the end of 2025, but it’s unclear if it will be part of this release. Another feature in the pipeline is end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, which Apple has promised in “future software updates.”